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FFWEQ GEORGE W. PRENTICE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,403, dated May 13, 1.884. I

Application filed March 3, 1884. (No model.)

$0 a whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PRENTIoE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttons; and

I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

My present invention relates to the manufacture of buttons or button-heads, such as are usually used on articles of wear, or furniture, or the like; and it consists of forming such buttons of different materials of a similar nature in a numberof layers, and securing them by means of metallic fastenings, all as will be more clearly described hereinafter.

To illustrate my invention I refer to the drawings, in which Figure l is a sectional view of an ordinary garment-button designed to be secured to fabric by sewing. Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views of a common eye-shank shoe-button. Fig. 4 is also a sectional view of a headed nail or one-prong fastener. Fig. 5 is a like view of a button combined with a staple-formed fastening. Each of these views also shows parts of the buttons previous to being united, and will be fully explained and pointed out by letters of reference, in which similar letters indicate like parts in the several figures.

A is a button made from separate layers of leather, leather-board, wood or paper pulp, or other analogous material susceptible of being pressed or molded into form, the button being formed so that, for illustration, the top surface shall be composed of leather and the lower surface of wood pulp, or'vice versa, if need be, the layers being united together by means of the metallic fastenings a during the operation of pressing the head of the button into form.

A in Fig. 1 is a garment-button, provided with holes cl, for securing it to fabric, and consists of the layers b and d. The fasteners a are embedded in one layer, and the two layers are then subjected to a heavy pressure in dies specially prepared, which forms the button into the desired shape, the end of the fasteners a being clinched by the dies into the button, thus completely uniting the layers together, making a strong and durable button seemingly of one compact piece, the layers uniting perfectly, and leaving no seam or crease where they join each other.

Fig. 2 shows a shoe-button formedas such from the layers 1) and (Z. An ordinary staple, a, is driven through the layers from the under side. The whole is then, as before described, pressed into form, the dies securely embedding the points of the staple into the upper layer, the staple holding the two layers securely together.

Fig. 3 is also a shoe-button. The eye a is first passed through the layer 5 from the upper side, as shown; the fasteners a are secured to the layer (Z,- the two layers are then pressed into shape, the fasteners a holding the layers together.

Fig. 4 is a one-prong fastener, a, passed through ,the layer 1) from the upper surface,

as shown. The fasteners a are secured through the opposite layer, d. The whole is subjected, as before described, to pressure, and formed as desired.

Fig. 5 is a button and fastener combined, the fastener consisting of a pronged staple, a which is passed through one layer, 1), from the upper surface, as shown. This layer is also provided with the fasteners a. The layers are then formed into a head, as previously described.

I have shownthese several forms of eyes and means of attaching the buttons to fabric to illustrate my invention; but it is evident that I may use my improved method of forming buttons in connection with any desired form of metallic fastening or eyes for attaching the same to fabric without departing from the spirit of my invention. Also, the forms of the fasteners a show small tacks and pieces of wire; but any form of pieces of metal may be employed, whereby the two layers may be united and held together by the ends of the fasteners a being clinched back into the heads during the pressure incidental to the formation of the button, the object be- 1. A solid button or button-head composed of two or more layers of plastic material, formed as described, and provided with eyeholes, staples, or other suitable means for at- I 5 tachment, substantially as set forth.

2. The hereiudescribed button or buttonhead A, consisting of the layers b and (Z and fastenings a, with a metallic eye or fastening, the whole arranged substantially as shown 20 and described.

- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

I GEORGE W. PRENTIGE.

WVitnesses:

F. A. SMITH, J r., E. FIsHER. 

